Frederick’s Attestation Papers from The Library & Archives of Canada Website – Soldiers of the Great War reveal that he enlisted into The Royal Canadian Dragoon Guards at Valcartier on 22nd September 1914.
He gave his trade as Lumberjack and his next of kin as Mrs N Burchill (sister). Her address was Kilwood, Manitoba, Canada. Also named was James Jauncey , brother, of Box 97, Robsart, Saskatchewan. There was another name on Frederick’s service papers. Mrs D Loughton, 22 Clayton Buildings, Elland Rd. Brookfoot, Brighouse, Yorkshire. He gave his date of birth as 11th June 1890 but on his medical record it states that on 27th August 1914 he was 27 years and 2 months old which means that he was born in 1887 not 1890.
I have done further research on Frederick’s sister Mrs. N.W. Burchill and I believe that her name was Lilly Jauncey who was born in Wellington, England. Her father was a Wood Sawyer according to the 1911 census on Ancestry.co.uk but she did not have brothers by the name of Frederick or James. She emigrated to Canada in 1911 arriving in 1912 and married Norman Winifred Burchill in Manitoba. I found this information on a Family Tree ( Burchill) on Ancestry. All the addresses given for Frederick’s sister on his service records seem to fit in with where the Burchill family were living, that is Kelwood in Manitoba, 1916 and Saskatoon, Saskachewan in 1919. I don’t believe she was his sister, although she may have been connected by family.
The other name on Frederick’s service records, Mrs D Houghton, of 12, Vine Grove, Elland Rd. Brighouse, Yorkshire, (1915) I believe this is his sister Dorothy Caroline Elizabeth Jauncey. The 1891 census for UK. and Ireland on Ancestry shows Head Annie Jauncey, a Charwoman, aged 28 who had been born in Woolwich, Kent in 1863. She was llisted with her three children at 54 Woodbine Grove, Penge in Lewisham, London. Her children were, Caroline Dorothy Elizabeth 6, born 1885, James 4 born 1887 and Frederick age 1 born 1890, born in Catford.
I cannot trace a marriage register nor can I find Annie Jauncey (Mother) on any documents after this date. Caroline (Frederick’s sister) went on to marry William Houghton in 1913 and they had a daughter called Lilian. They lived in the Elland district of Brighouse Yorkshire which ties in with the address given on Frederick’s service papers.
I cannot locate James Jauncey in Canada.
I think there is a strong possibility that Frederick served under an assumed christian name, he may actually have been James Jauncey born 1887.
Frederick’s service record reveals that after training in Canada, he embarked for England on 3rd October 1914 and after a period of training on Salisbury Plain he embarked for France on 4th May 1915 landing in Boulogne.
He remained in the Field until 30th November 1915 when he was reprimanded for “Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline.” There are no further details of Frederick’s postings until 12th February 1917 when he is shown to be in France with the Royal Canadian Dragoons.
Frederick suffered with POU ( Pyrexia of unknown origin (PUO), also known as fever of unknown origin (FUO), is a grouping of many unrelated medical conditions that share the feature of persistent unexplained fever despite basic investigation) on two occasions, 22nd June 1917 and 20th September 1917, he was hospitalised for 1 week in each case.
He had an injury to his right leg on 12th February 1917 and was discharged on 17th February 1917, and was shot in the right thigh on 10th August 1918 and admitted from the lines to Rouen General hospital on 29th August 1918. Frederick was invalided back to Epsom hospital and remained in England after recovery, being posted to Shorncliffe Army Camp and then Kinmel Camp in Rhyl to await discharge and repatriation to Canada.
Kinmel Park Camp was a segregation camp used to house Canadian Soldiers awaiting repatriation to Canada after the end of WW1. Unfortunately the conditions at that time were extremely harsh with a lack of every kind of commodity, the camp was overcrowded and the services were poor, there were shortages of clothing, food and blankets. As a result of this situation, a vast number of servicemen and women became ill and many succumbed to the Influenza Epidemic or complications associated with this infection.
Tragically Frederick contracted Influenza and died in the Military Hospital at Kinmel Camp on 14th February 1919.
Frederick was buried in St Margaret’s Cemetery, Bodelwyddan.
He is commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.
